Native Peoples

"Perhaps more than any other group, the men and women of
the Lakota Nation (better known as The Sioux) -- with their graceful tipis,
fast horses, warrior societies and richly feathered regalia -- have become
the international symbol for all of America's native peoples. The Sioux
gained control of the Northern Plains in the 1700's, and developed a unique
culture based on the abundant buffalo of that era."

"Images of my people In the
upcoming updates we will see a number of postcards depicting Sami people in
various ways, this might seem to be one add choice - but these images do
show more than the pictures themselves do. How we are seen by other peoples,
and how we choose to depict ourselves."

"The Banabans are the 'Forgotten People of the Pacific'
who have suffered from one of the greatest
ecological and environmental disasters this century, and we hope through
learning more about us and our endeavors to save our identity and our
homeland we can move towards a brighter future."

"The Cherokee seal (above) was designed to embrace the
early government structure, and the eternal endurance of the Cherokee
Indians. It was adopted by Act of the Cherokee National Council, and
approved in 1871. The seven-pointed star symbolizes: (1). the seven age old
clans of the Cherokee: (2). the seven characters of Sequoyah’s syllabary,
meaning "Cherokee Nation." (The Cherokee characters are phonetically
pronounced "Tsa-la-gi-hi A-yi-li") .. The wreath of oak leaves symbolizes
the sacred fire which, from time immemorial, the Cherokees kept burning in
their land. Oak was the wood traditionally burned, different species of oak
having ever been indigenous to Cherokee country, both in North Carolina and
Georgia as well as in the Indian Territory to which the Cherokees removed in
the early 1800's...The margin wording proclaims the authority of the seal in
both the English and the Cherokee languages, and records the date (1839) of
the adoption of the Constitution of the Cherokee Nation West...This seal was
imprinted on all documents until the dissolution of the Cherokee Nation at
Oklahoma Statehood."

"The site started in 1994 (using [remember] gopher and
when THE browser was Mosaic!) as a senior project at UCSC focusing upon the
Indigenous People of Central, Coastal California. The indigenous people of
this area, the Costanoan, or Ohlone, peoples have, at the present time (May,
2003) NO recognized tribes among all of the community living throughout the
San Francisco Bay Area and the United States is in denial of their
existence, as part of the myth and process that works to deny a people their
rights in the world."

"The International Indian
Treaty Council (IITC) is an organization of Indigenous Peoples from North,
Central, South America and the Pacific working for the Sovereignty and
Self-Determination of Indigenous Peoples and the recognition and protection
of Indigenous Rights, Traditional Cultures and Sacred Lands."

"Three fundamental approaches exist in
dealing with minority rights in law(1)The
first is to seek the integration of minority groups into the larger society.
This can be advanced in either of two ways. The first is to try to
assimilate minorities thru benign measures such as non-discrimination
laws or legal guarantees of equality. The second approach also has as it's
ultimate objective the integration of minority groups into the majority
society. Its measures are, however, of a coercive nature. Examples abound
and, in most cases, their purpose is to advance the domination of
the majority group, generally through exercising political, economic, or
culture hegemony. The third approach recognizes that differences exist, and
that an integrationist strategy, of whatever variety, is unlikely to
succeed."

"The links below provide highlights of current and past
activities related to Hawaii's independence and history. They are collected
from a variety of sources, in order to support education, awareness and
action, with aloha."

"Native Hawaiian Advisory Council educates and advocates
to sustain and foster the Hawaiian Spirit and cultural, spiritual and
economic values. We assert the principle of self-determination for present
and future generations. We strive to restore and secure all rights to
resources, including our inherent sovereign rights as indigenous people, and
the right to choose our own way of life."

"The First Annual Native American Symposium, held at the
University of Arkansas, February 3-4,
1995, was sponsored by the University of Arkansas Native American Student
Association, Alpha Chapter of Lambda Pi Eta, and the Religious Studies
Program."

"On October 4, 1968, the Eastern Band of Cherokees, the
Mississippi Band of Choctaws, the Miccosukee Tribe and the Seminole Tribe of
Florida met in Cherokee, North Carolina with the shared idea that some form
of unity between the Tribes would facilitate their dealings with the federal
government. The result of their vision of "Strength in Unity," was the
inter-tribal council United Southeastern Tribes. Incorporated in 1969,
United Southeastern Tribes operated first out of Emery University in
Atlanta, Georgia, and then moved to Sarasota, Florida. In 1975 it relocated
again to Nashville, Tennessee, where it resides today."

"The
Wyandot Nation of Kansas is made up of those formerly known as "absentee" or
"citizen class" Wyandot Indians. The Wyandot Nation of Kansas is currently
petitioning the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs for
federal recognition and was incorporated in 1959. The Wyandot Nation of
Kansas is dedicated to the preservation of Wyandot history and culture and
the preservation, protection, restoration and maintenance of the Huron
Indian Cemetery in Kansas City, Kansas."